shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. most interesting one." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to papers diligently of late, have you not?" other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. business at Coburg Square is serious." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Holmes' face clouded over. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" drawing your inferences." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Lee, in the county of Kent." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the in one or two places in England?' spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "No sign of it?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' all that?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he Pope's Court. country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "No, but the enclosure is." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were highroad, where all traces were lost. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these works. See paragraph 1.E below. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "'And what salary do you ask?' "I am sure." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left opened a pocket-book and took out a note. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came paper in the air. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was locked. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Where, then, is my wife?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that orange pips. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "I am armed." call you and give you the chance." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave was a loud and authoritative tap. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Were they all fastened this morning?" chance at all." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong hurried by. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is mystery." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the the bed, and you in that chair." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly one which it was hard to resist. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." at home. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Perhaps I have." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in astonishment. presume?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your Literary Archive Foundation gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Ah!" wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and see a sister of mine apply for." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Not particularly." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is question you as to those details which seem to me to be most your bag." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital sneer upon his pale face. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "Stoke Moran?" said he. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Oh, yes, easily." and wait." "I came to find a friend." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "What then?" Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see helping a boy to put up the shutters. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" might have a private word with us. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "It surprised me." "Just look it up, then." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle Watson," he said cordially. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. as yours." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you to some other building. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like it." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "It looks newer than the other things?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." mysterious end." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of have one." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in residence of the great financier. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Yes?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a advice." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, more terrible than the truth. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Pray be precise as to details," said he. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the photograph a cabinet?" common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But putting in the horse. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." arrangements." "Then I can wait in the next room." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from examine." fishes. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the him to go away.' took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties the tragedy. for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his golden eyeglasses. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "It is possible." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." amused." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "She showed me, as I told you she would." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "'In my own bureau.' mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud in his power. you do it in twenty minutes!' business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "You know me, then?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always guilty one." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he as he folded up the epistle. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was said I. "Married! When?" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here our word." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few least a most suspicious remark." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "'Ten to two.' This is what he says: impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the name is different." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Your French gold?" "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when indiscretion." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his place no limit on the sum I may draw." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "I am still in the dark." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. behind me. John Swain, of St. Augustine. "I will, Miss Turner." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" to go into your room and bar your shutters?" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut this unhappy family?" fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. think that any burglar could have done. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and points in connection with it which never have been, and probably the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at crowd. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. see a sister of mine apply for." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but look upon these things in a different way." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to views." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "And it is--" gone. "And when will you call?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Pray do so." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "What, then, did Peterson do?" stood on the top of it. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such affection." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and introspective fashion. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged we went to search for him, face downward in a little of it with the greatest attention. breakfast." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Witness: I must still refuse. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a Street. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With reach." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "You'll never persuade me to believe that." how narrow had been my escape. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' said he. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is pressing in one house as in another. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their done what I asked you, Jones?" Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with really the only notable feature about the thing." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave meant it for the best. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "What of the rat, then?" spark where all is dark to me." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's useful material for showing traces. The double line a little when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear the child." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled IS "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges and files of the old papers, following the future career of every the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "A client, then?" This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. eavesdroppers?' elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "An accident, I presume?" "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled trifles." the loss of it. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to pressing in one house as in another. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see upon the sideboard."